2014 - Exclusive interview with toni Gorgot

Seeing I was suffering, Loy got some cakes out and we walked out through the door, fly hanging bead screen and onto the magnificent sun terrace at the rear of the house, 40 feet up from the landscape below. The Stone House is built on the edge of a very steep hill and commands amazing views of the level fields beyond and the forests on the hills to either side. There was no noise. The fields that we looked down on were all part of Toni’s property and were a mixture of trees, under growth and brightlycoloured bushes. Donkey’s grazed on the grass and weeds as they slowly strolled around. This was a working landscape. We all then sat down at a beautiful stone and tiled top table as is so traditional in Spain and the interview started.

Who introduced you to the motorcycle?I start with the motorcycles and get involved from many friends around here. I live here in this village all my life. Some friends they come from Barcelona and me with these friends they show me the bike and play in this place on the moto. They practise the trial here near my house. They were all of a similar age to me. I was 13 or 14 years old. They practice trial, me no and I go with bicycle with them and watch them. Then later I go to my father and say is it possible for you to buy me a motorcycle. I get no motorcycle and have to wait for this. Then my father after one year they buy me a motorcycle, a Montesa Cota 74. You remember this bike?Yes, of course.Slowly I practice the competition in this village near my parents and this house. At this time and this age there was many many clubs of the trial here. Figueres club and more clubs also. Moto at this time was very popular here. Not now, nothing now. It is illegal here, you cannot practice the trial in the mountain, if you leave the way now the Police will take your bike.It is difficult now in Spain to ride the trial.It’s impossible, if you leave the road way by 4 meters only with a car or motorcycle and go across the mountain or forest the police will take the motorcycle and you will pay the money also as penalty. So no one rides in this area.What was the name of the club you belonged to when you started riding?

Penya Motorista Figueres.

Toni Gorgot Interview - Exclusive www.retrotrials.com

When you were a boy did you read the magazines about the trial? Yes. I read the Solo moto but before the Solo Moto was the Motociclismo magazine. Solo Moto was after Motoclismo, 10 years after.

Toni Gorgot Interview - Exclusive www.retrotrials.com photo solo moto

USA - Toni with Snr Raga who was working over there

Toni Gorgot Interview - Exclusive www.retrotrials.com

Toni Gorgot Interview - Exclusive www.retrotrials.com

Who was your hero?Aghhh ha ha ha Mick Andrews, Lampkin, Rathmell were the big men for me, for sure.So it was English riders ?

Ci and also Vesterinan and Ulf Karlson was after. When I was younger at the beginning of the trial, Mick Andrews, Sammy Miller as well. He was a great influence for me.

Toni Gorgot Interview - Exclusive www.retrotrials.com

Toni Gorgot Interview - Exclusive www.retrotrials.com

Toni Gorgot Interview - Exclusive www.retrotrials.com

When did you leave school? I leave the school when I was 14 yearsWhen did you become professional?This was some time later that this happen. First when I leave school in Figueres I go to Terassa to study university.What did you study there?I study Engineering and Mechanics. I study for one year and then after one year ha ha I finish because it is impossible with training and travel and study and do all these things. Its impossible. After this I speak with my father and I propose to him that I make and be professional rider and try to make this for my future as I have good chance and I finish the University. I was 17 or 18 at this time.